TPC Boston was no pushover for a lot of big names Friday at the Dell, Tiger Woods among them.
Woods came back from three-over par on his opening nine (the back nine) and finished with a one-over par 72 that left him seven shots behind first round leader Justin Rose.
“I was three-over early and didn’t have a whole lot going on,” was how Woods described his slow start. “I just hung in there.” Woods has switched putters again. He went to a blade-style TaylorMade Juno. He had 26 putts the first round. He hit 10 of 14 fairways but only nine greens and found himself scrambling most of the day.
He wasn’t the only big name who didn’t tear it up on the first day of this second playoff event. Phil Mickelson was under par early but didn’t stay there and tied Woods’ effort of 72.
Jason Day soared to 76, Justin Thomas and Jon Rahm recorded 73s.
By day’s end, Rose was alone at the top thanks to six birdies and a clean scorecard.
Bryson DeChambeau (70) and Tony Finau (69) continued to make their cases strong for a spot on the Ryder Cup team.
